Matthew Leach, of MLB.com, reports the St. Louis Cardinals signed Japanese P Katsuhiko Maekawa to a minor league deal Friday, Dec. 19. He will not receive an invitation to Spring Training. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

The Washington Post's Barry Svrluga reports Washington Nationals minor league P Katsuhiko Maekawa remains in Japan because of visa problems, according to Nationals manager Manny Acta. His visa may be held up by two-year-old charges in a hit-and-run accident. He might not join the club as a result.